A power-supply control apparatus of a vehicle comprises a first electricity-storage device to supply electric power to a starter for starting engine, a generator to convert kinetic energy of the vehicle during a vehicle deceleration to electric energy for energy recovery, a second electricity-storage device coupled to the generator to store the electric power from the generator thereat, a feeder circuit coupling the second electricity-storage device to an electric load with a relatively-small electric-load capacity via a DC/DC convertor, a coupling line coupling the second electricity-storage device to the first electricity-storage device via a coupling relay, and a controller to control the electric power passing through the feeder circuit and the coupling line, wherein the controller executes a control to make the coupling relay on the coupling line in an OFF state when the starter operates.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A power-supply control apparatus of a vehicle, comprising: a first electricity-storage device to supply electric power to a starter for starting engine; a generator to convert kinetic energy of the vehicle during a vehicle deceleration to electric energy for energy recovery; a second electricity-storage device coupled to the generator to store the electric power from the generator thereat; a feeder circuit coupling the second electricity-storage device to an electric load via a DC/DC convertor; a coupling line coupling the second electricity-storage device to the first electricity-storage device via a coupling relay; and a controller to control the electric power passing through the feeder circuit and the coupling line, wherein said controller executes a control to make the coupling relay on said coupling line in an OFF state when said starter operates.
A vehicle power supply system has a starter battery (first electricity-storage device) that powers the engine starter. A generator recovers energy during deceleration and charges a capacitor (second electricity-storage device). A DC/DC converter powers small electrical loads from the capacitor. A relay-controlled line connects the capacitor to the starter battery. A controller manages power flow, and it disconnects the capacitor from the starter battery when the engine starter is operating.
2. The power-supply control apparatus of a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said electric load comprises plural electric loads with a relatively-small electric-load capacity.
The vehicle power supply system from the previous description has multiple small electrical loads powered by the DC/DC converter connected to the capacitor, instead of just one. These smaller loads are powered via the DC/DC converter connected to the capacitor, which is charged by the generator during vehicle deceleration.
3. The power-supply control apparatus of a vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising: an auto-stop controller to automatically stop the engine when a condition for automatically stopping is met and to automatically restart the engine by operating said starter when a condition for automatically restarting is met; and a voltage detector to detect a voltage of said second electricity-storage device, wherein said auto-stop controller is prohibited from automatically stopping the engine in a case in which the voltage of the second electricity-storage device detected by said voltage detector is a specified value or smaller.
The vehicle power supply system from the first description includes an auto-stop/start system that automatically stops the engine when idle and restarts it when needed. A voltage sensor monitors the capacitor's voltage. The auto-stop function is disabled if the capacitor's voltage is too low to ensure reliable engine restarts. The generator charges the capacitor, which supplies power to the small electric loads and the first battery via a coupling line.
4. The power-supply control apparatus of a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said second electricity-storage device is a capacitor which has a quicker charge-and-discharge performance than said first electricity-storage device.
In the vehicle power supply system from the first description, the second energy storage device, which is coupled to the generator to store the electric power from the generator thereat, is a capacitor. This capacitor charges and discharges faster than the starter battery (first electricity-storage device). The capacitor is connected to the starter battery via a coupling line with a relay.
5. The power-supply control apparatus of a vehicle of claim 3 , wherein said second electricity-storage device is a capacitor which has a quicker charge-and-discharge performance than said first electricity-storage device.
In the vehicle power supply system from the third description, the second energy storage device, which is coupled to the generator to store the electric power from the generator thereat, is a capacitor. This capacitor charges and discharges faster than the starter battery. The capacitor is connected to the starter battery via a coupling line with a relay. Also, the auto-stop controller will not automatically stop the engine if the capacitor's voltage is too low, as detected by the voltage detector.
6. The power-supply control apparatus of a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said controller executes a control to stop outputting of said DC/DC convertor in a case in which the electric power stored at said second electricity-storage device is consumed and decreased below a specified value necessary for restarting engine when the engine is in an automatically-stop state.
The vehicle power supply system from the first description has a controller that stops the DC/DC converter from outputting power if the capacitor's charge level drops too low while the engine is in auto-stop mode. This prevents the capacitor from being drained to a level insufficient to restart the engine.
7. The power-supply control apparatus of a vehicle of claim 3 , wherein said controller executes a control to stop outputting of said DC/DC convertor in a case in which the electric power stored at said second electricity-storage device is consumed and decreased below a specified value necessary for restarting engine when the engine is in an automatically-stop state.
The vehicle power supply system from the third description includes a controller that stops the DC/DC converter from outputting power if the capacitor's charge level drops too low while the engine is in auto-stop mode. This prevents the capacitor from being drained to a level insufficient to restart the engine. The auto-stop system will also not function if the capacitor voltage is too low.
8. The power-supply control apparatus of a vehicle of claim 6 , wherein when the outputting of the DC/DC convertor is stopped, the electric power from said first electricity-storage device is supplied to said electric load.
In the vehicle power supply system from the sixth description, when the DC/DC converter stops outputting power due to low capacitor charge, the starter battery then supplies power to the small electrical loads. This ensures the electrical loads continue to operate even when the capacitor is depleted.
9. The power-supply control apparatus of a vehicle of claim 7 , wherein when the outputting of the DC/DC convertor is stopped, the electric power from said first electricity-storage device is supplied to said electric load.
In the vehicle power supply system from the seventh description, when the DC/DC converter stops outputting power due to low capacitor charge, the starter battery then supplies power to the small electrical loads. This ensures the electrical loads continue to operate even when the capacitor is depleted. This is in addition to the auto-stop system disabling when the capacitor voltage is low.
10. The power-supply control apparatus of a vehicle of claim 1 , in a case in which a large amount of electric current is consumed by said electric load, said controller executes a control to supply an electric current generated by said generator to said first electricity-storage device so that consumption of the electric power by said second electricity-storage device is restrained.
In the vehicle power supply system from the first description, when the electrical loads draw a large amount of current, the controller directs the generator's output current to the starter battery. This reduces the drain on the capacitor by charging the starter battery directly from the generator.
11. The power-supply control apparatus of a vehicle of claim 3 , in a case in which a large amount of electric current is consumed by said electric load, said controller executes a control to supply an electric current generated by said generator to said first electricity-storage device so that consumption of the electric power by said second electricity-storage device is restrained.
In the vehicle power supply system from the third description, when the electrical loads draw a large amount of current, the controller directs the generator's output current to the starter battery. This reduces the drain on the capacitor by charging the starter battery directly from the generator. The auto-stop controller will also not automatically stop the engine if the capacitor's voltage is too low.
12. A power-supply control apparatus of a vehicle, comprising: a first electricity-storage device to supply electric power to a starter for starting engine; a generator to convert kinetic energy of the vehicle during a vehicle deceleration to electric energy for energy recovery; a second electricity-storage device coupled to the generator to store the electric power from the generator thereat, the second electricity-storage device being a capacitor which has a quicker charge-and-discharge performance than said first electricity-storage device; a feeder circuit coupling the second electricity-storage device to an electric load via a DC/DC convertor; a coupling line coupling the second electricity-storage device to the first electricity-storage device via a coupling relay; a controller to control the electric power passing through the feeder circuit and the coupling line; an auto-stop controller to automatically stop the engine when a condition for automatically stopping is met and to automatically restart the engine by operating said starter when a condition for automatically restarting is met; and a voltage detector to detect a voltage of said second electricity-storage device, wherein said controller executes a control to make the coupling relay on said coupling line in an OFF state when said starter operates, said auto-stop controller is prohibited from automatically stopping the engine in a case in which the voltage of the second electricity-storage device detected by said voltage detector is a specified value or smaller, said controller executes a control to stop outputting of said DC/DC convertor in a case in which the electric power stored at said second electricity-storage device is consumed and decreased below a specified value necessary for restarting engine when the engine is in an automatically-stop state, when the outputting of the DC/DC convertor is stopped, the electric power from said first electricity-storage device is supplied to said electric load, and in a case in which a large amount of electric current is consumed by said electric load, said controller executes a control to supply an electric current generated by said generator to said first electricity-storage device so that consumption of the electric power by said second electricity-storage device is restrained.
A vehicle power supply system uses a starter battery for starting. A generator recovers energy during deceleration and charges a capacitor. A DC/DC converter powers small electrical loads from the capacitor. A relay-controlled line connects the capacitor to the starter battery. An auto-stop/start system stops and starts the engine automatically. A voltage sensor monitors the capacitor. The controller disconnects the capacitor from the starter battery during starting. Auto-stop is disabled if the capacitor voltage is too low. The DC/DC converter shuts off if the capacitor is too low to restart the engine. The starter battery powers the loads when the DC/DC converter is off. When the load draws a lot of current, the generator charges the starter battery directly.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
May 17, 2012
July 30, 2013
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